Ice cubing machine



Sept. 6, 1938. c. BUFFEHR ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1937 4 'sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 6, g. Q EUFFEHR ZZQ ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 UQAM C. BUFFEHR ICE CUBING MACHINE Sept. 6, '1938.

Filed April`l5, 1937. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www Sept. 6, 1938. c. BUFFEHR ICE CUBING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m W m Patented Sept. 6, 1938 nant UNITEDQSMTATES eA'r-Enrforrice ICE CUBING MACHINE Charles Buifehr, Cheyenne, Wyo.

'f 'Application April 13, 1937, Serial No. 136,675v

y*2'Claims. This invention relatesv to `devices for cutting ice in small cubes and the general object is to provide a "construction of this character wherein ablock of 'ice may be cut up -intosmall cubes, 5` particularly wherein these vcubes are cut from the underface of the block'of ice, and means are provided for carrying this block past the several gangs of cutting" saws until the block y y,is entirely used up. 10l Another object isvto` provide a 'device of'ithis character having twoY gangs of rotary saws which out the bottom of theA block into rectangles and provide a horizontalfsaw against which the block is carried, this horizontal `saw cutting oi the l5* rectangular pieces of 'icedened by the channels cut by the rstA namedv saws soas to form` cubes. Y y

-A further* object is to provide means whereby whenl thecubes have been cut from the bottoml 20` of the* block, the block `may then be carried by a conveyor .againl pastl the two gangs `of lsaws and back to the horizontal saw, thus causing the block to pass around and around the cutting table until it is entirely used up.

Othe1'-objectshave to do with the `details of construction `and arrangement of parts as will appearmore fully hereinafter. t

My invention is illustrated in the vaccompanyingdrawings' wherein: v

Figurel 1 is a top plan view of an ice cube cutting table constructedin accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 lis-a top plan View of the endless con-r veyors and the driving'means furthe conveyors andthe saws,V the toplof the table being removed.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figurel. l lFigure 4 is a vsection on the line 11-4 of Figure 1. f Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinall section on lthe'line 5-5 of Figure- 1. t

Figure 6 is a section on the line -'of Figure 2. Figure 7 is a detailed fragmentary section on the line '1 -'l of Figure 1.

Figure A8-1is a perspective shown in ligure'Yl f Figure 9 view` of the guide 'is a fragmentary vsectional view through. one of the pivoted guides and a portion I6 of the table. The saws are mounted upon an arbor I8 carried by bearings Il. Coacting withv these saws and extending between two of the saws and inl their plane of rotation is an'endless conveyor I9 havin'g'projecting therefrom two lugs 2B. The manner inV which the saws and conveyor aredriven will be later described.

Disposed in vertical planes at right rangles to the planes of the saws I5 and parallel yto a second margin of the table are a plurality of rotary saws 2l extending through slots-"22 inthe table land mounted upon'an arbory 23. Coacting with these'saws is an endless conveyor 24 which operates'like th'ejendless conveyor i9, through a slot inthe table, this endless conveyor 'having' the lugs 25. The lugs 2!) and 25 are adapted to engage a blocl of ice, carry the block parallel to thesaws I 5, thencarry the block parallel to the saws 2l and discharge the block upon a iiat portion 26 of the'table'.

Extending through onelend'of this hat portion of the table'is' an arbor 52'@ carrying upon it horizontal circular saw 28. Just` below that margin of the saw which confronts the flat portion 26 of the table is an opening 29, for a purpose to be later Stated. *Associated with the saw 28 is'an endless conveyor 3U traveling in a horizontal plane' over 'the sprocket wheels 3l and 32, this conveyonfjas illustrated, being' made up of links and carrying the two lugs 33. The conveyor moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 and the lugs 33 carry a block of ice, the underface 'of which has been cut by the saws i5 and 2l into contact with the saw 28'; The saw 28 is disposed ata height abovethe flatl portionZG ofthe table Iii equal to the cutting of the saws I5 and 2l. The ysaws I5 and '2i will form kerfs or cuts in the bottom of a block 'of ice at rightV angles to eachotherand then as the block of ice is engaged by the `saw 28, the `bottoni of this block will be cut off and the cubes so formed will drop through the aperture 29.y t i The'block is carried over the upper surface of the saw 28 by means of the lug on the endless carrier 3U and the'block is carried onto a raised portion 3'4 of the tabletthe upper face of this raised portion beingin the "same plane as the upper face of thev saw 23;' From the raised portion SM extends thedownwardly inclined surface 35 which lowers the block of ice tothe plane of the portion- 36 ofthe table where the blockr iis-again engaged by the conveyor I9. VThe surface of the portion 5M 35 and the flat 'portion has va longitudinal slot lthrough which operates the conveyor 3i! provided with thelugs Sii. This conveyor moves in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, and carries the block from the raised portion 34 downward over the inclined portion 35 and discharges it onto the portion 35 of the table where the block is again engaged by a lug 2@ of the conveyor i9 and carried again through the saws l5, thence by conveyor 24 past the saws 2| and then again by conveyor 30 over the upper face of the saw 28 and so back to the portion 34. It will thus be seen that the block moves in a closed path past the several sets oi saws until the block has been entirely cut up into cubes.

For the purpose of guiding the block in its movement past the saws I5, I provide a guide 45 which has an upwardly extending flange 4|. This guide is pivoted upon a pin 42 extending down into the table and the other end of the guide is slotted at 43 and a pin 44 passes through this slot. A spring 45 at one end bears against an abutment 46 on the table and at the other end bears against the flange 4| and urges this guide 40 toward the saws l5. As the block passes between this guide 4| and the parallel ange it is guided so as to move in a path exactly parallel to the plane of rotation of the saws I5. The block is also guided in this direction after it passes onto the portion 35 of the table by means of a guide 41. This guide is oi a character shown in Figure '1, and operates through a slot 48 in the table. The guide has an upstanding end wall 49 which is carried by two arms 5D pivoted at 5| to the table and weighted at its end opposite the wall 49, this weight being designated 52. The walls 49 have angular extensions 49a which are inclined upward and toward the wall 49 and thus, as will be seen from Figure l, when the block of ice is engaged by the lug 3S of conveyor 38 and moves down ofi the inclined face 35 onto the face 36 of the table, the block will force the wall 49 downward, and then when the block has passed this guide, the wall 49 will rise and act as a guide for the block of ice as it is carried from the face 36 into engagement with the saws |5. Associated with the gang of saws 2| is a second guide designated 49 and constructed in exactly the same manner as the guide 4i! associated with the saws l5 and urged outward by a spring 45. Disposed in advance of the saws l5 is a pivot-ed guide designated generally 41 which is of the same character as the guide heretofore referred to but which has its wall 4S extending parallel to the planes of the saws 2i. As the block of ice passes through the saws |5, it is carried onto the conveyor 24 by the conveyor i il and is carried by this conveyor into position between the marginal ange of the table and the guide 4|) and is thus carried through the saws 2| and discharged upon the portion 25 of the table.

Associated with the horizontal saw 2S is a guide 49 of exactly the same character as heretofore described, except that the end wall il is higher so as to extend above the horizontal saw 28. Also associated with the saw and disposed in advance of the guide 45 thereof is a depressible guide 41 of the same character as the guides 41 heretofore described. As the block of ice passes through the saws 2|, it depresses this guide 41 and when the block of ice is engaged by the lug on the conveyor 3E? and the block of ice is moved toward the horizontal saw the block will be held by the guide 41 into Contact with the lug 33 until the block has passed into the space between the guide 4Q and the endless conveyor Associated with the raised portion 34 of the table and disposed between this raised portion and the inclined portion 35 is a guide 50 in the form of a bar having an angular arm 5| pivoted at 52 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane. A spring 53 urges the guide 59 into a position at right angles to the path of movement of conveyor 38. The face of this guideV carries an outwardly bowed or curved rigid member 54. When the ice block is pushed by the lug on conveyor 39 over the saw 28 and after the ice has passed guide 4|), the block has a tendency to turn, due to the fact that the push of lug 33 is on a corner of the block. The curved portion 54 of the guide assists in guiding the block squarely onto the corner of the table. By providing this curved portion 54, the point of contact of the ice with guide 59 is kept in the center of the runway even after guide 50 has left the position shown by the full lines. As the ice passes down the inclined portion of the table, the guide 5D turns on its pivot beyond the dotted line position in Figure l, so that the block can pass by and onto the portion 36 of the table.

The chains which constitute conveyors I9, 24 and 38 operate in recesses or channels formed in the bottom of the table, while the lugs 33 of the conveyor 39 travel over the upper edge of the adjacent flange of the table.

For the purpose of driving the several conveyors and the saws, I provide a motor shown as an electric motor, and designated 55. The shaft of this motor carries a sprocket pinion 56 over which passes a sprocket chain 51 which engages with a sprocket wheel 58 mounted upon the arbor or shaft |8, which carries the saws l5. Mounted upon this arbor or shaft, as shown in Figure 2, is a beveled gear wheel 59 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 69 upon the arbor or shaft 23 which carries the saws 2|. Also mounted upon this shaft i8 is a beveled gear wheel 6| which meshes with a beveled gear wheel 62 which is fast upon the vertical arbor 21 and drives the saw 28. Thus it will be seen that both gangs of saws l5 and 2| and the horizontal saw 28 are all driven at any desired speed.

The shaft of the motor extends into a casing 63 which contains a reducing gear. Inasmuch as these reducing gearunits are common in large varieties of machinery and forms no part of my invention, I have not illustrated the reducing gear specifically. Disposed between the reducing gear and the motor 55 is a flexible coupling S4. Extending out of the box 63 is a shaft carrying upon it the sprocket wheel 55 which operates a sprocket chain 61 which engages with a sprocket wheel 68 mountedupon a shaft 59 which in turn carries a sprocket wheel 1B over which the con veyor chain 38 passes. The forward end of this chain passes over an idle sprocket wheel 1| preferably mounted in bearings that may be adjusted to take 11p wear in the chain.

'The shaft 59 is driven from the sprocket wheel 53 through a friction clutch 12 which permits slippage in case a piece of ice gets caught in the machine. The shaft 69 also carries upon it the beveled pinion 13 which engages with a beveled pinion 14 mounted upon a shaft 15. this shaft extending longitudinally of the machine. One end of this shaft carries upon it a sprocket wheel 16 over which a sprocket chain 11 passes to a sprocket wheel 18 on the shaft 19. this shaft carrying the sprocket wheel 8) over which the chain |9 passes, the outer end of the chain passing over an idle sprocket wheel 8|.

The shaft 15 also carries upon it the sprocket wheel 82 which, through the sprocket chain 83,

'- engages with the endless conveyor 24.

drives .the sprocket wheel Sli-on the shaft 85.

his shaitcarries uponait the beveled pinion 864 which engages a beveled pinion 181 on a shaft 88.' This shaft carries the sprocket wheel 89 which The'outer end of this endless conveyor 24 istrained over an idle sprocket wheel-90. i Mounted upon the end ofthe shaft J5 is a beveledpinion 9| which engages with a beveled pinion .92'mounted' upon a.'

shaft 93 which carries thesprocket wheel 3l. over which the endless conveyor 3Q passes, the `outerI end of this endless conveyor passingover'an Vidle Thus all four conveyor'chains j sprocket wheel 32. E9, 3K5, 3l! and 33 are driven at the same speed. These chains are ofequal length'and each chain is preferably provided with two lugs'equi-distantly spaced, which lugs engage the blocks of ice ands carry them over the face .of the table inE afclosedv` Preferably all lof:v the idle. sprocket wheels are mounted for adjustment sov as to take up wear orV slack in the various sprocketY rectangular path.

chains. As before stated, theclutchlZ -isV for' the purpose of permitting slippage of the chains in case a piece of ice gets caught in the machine.

In the yoperatimi of this mechanism,. a block oi ice is initially placed on thatportion. of the` The lug. on the conveyor` table designated 3S. chain i@ carries the ice over thesaws I5, these saws cutting a plurality of kerfs longitudinallyonA As the forward end 0= the underface of the ice.-

block oi rice reaches the guide 4l, it depresses this guide and the block of ice moves forward until the end ofthe-block strikes against therim.

i i 'of the table. At this time, it is engaged by the` "lug on the chain 24 and is carried in adirection at right angles toits rst nameddirection past the saws 2 l. These saws cut kerfs in theunderface of the block of ice atright angles. tothe kerfs out by the saws l5. During the movementofifthe block under the action of 'the conveyor;|9 and" the second movement under ,the action of the conveyor 2d, the block. is held firmly againstthe side`I flange il of thetable bymeansoi the pivot/ed. v As the block passes the 4saws 2l., the.

guides Ml. forward edge of the block depresses thevplvoted guide il and the block passes ontothe portion of thetable designated 26 and into engagement with the lug on the'chain 3l).

fil' associated with thesaws 2 l, this guide will rise the block of ice will then be engaged by the lug on the chain 3u and carried toward andover p horizontal saw 28. The forward edge of saw, will cut ofi the cube of ice from the bot- .I tom of the block and these Cubes will drop 'through ,y

the aperture 29. `As the cubes are` cut-01T, the block will'slide over the `upper face of the saw 28 and onto the portion 3470i the carried linto engagement with a lugr 39 on the chain The block will then be carried off the raised portion onto the inclined the guide into the dotted line position in Fig-` ure l., and the block will be carried down the 1ncline to the portion 350i the, table over the depressible guide il Vinto position against the` rim of the table where it rwill be engaged by the lug on the chain i@ and saws it* and again around in this endless, path until the block of ice has been entirely out up..

The openings i3 are for the purpose of'permitting small pieces of ice which may have accidently broken oif from the `ice block to drop i down through the table so as not to block the free move- 25 of the table.

As soon as the rear end .i oi block oi ice has passed beyond the guide table and ,will be portion 3511i.vv the table and down this inclined portion As it. moves onto the inclined portion v35, it` will swingI again carried `through the s ment of the ice. Inasmuoh as each of the conveyors `has two lugs,\it is possible to have four blocks of ice in the machine at yone time. "The:

the face ofcthe'table so asto cut off the cubes delined by the previous saw cuts. As the block of ice passes from the portion Monto the portion'35 of thetable;` Vit bears against the curved part ofthe membervivof the `guide 5u, causing the" guide 50 to rotate on its pivot and in this rotated position the guidev 50 forms the inside guard or guide for the blocky of ice as it passesdowntheiine oline andonto the portion 3ft `of the table.

While I have not shown this, yyet it is to`be:

understood that all chains and sprockets which are exposed' beyond the edge of the table should be* covered for safetyssake and preferably'a guard such, for instance,` as a heavy Awire screen, isfastened 'to the table rim 'l i and extends a foot or 'sd above the-table but with an opening for placing the blocks of ice on the table at 1 have not shown these protecting shields or 4covers for the sprocket wheels nor this wire guide as thesey vention." l

Inasmuch 4as-this machine is entirely auton matic, it-issafer to use than the`ordinary'machinesffor vcubng ice.

are obvious features and do not involve any intime though it isobvious ythat the machine willI operate on one block until that block is used up.y As long as blocksof ice are fed one at a time onto the portion 36 of' the table, so long will theV machineoperate'to cut these blocks into cubes.

The'reducinggear'contained within the reduc-v s v '45` of 'the 'motor to a speed suitable ior' the-conveyor chains'." This; under ordinary circumstances, willl v beapproximately 25 ft. per minute; All #four-y ing gearbox lisdesigne'd to reduce the speed ofthe conveyor chains i9, 2.1i, 30 and 3B are of vthe same lengthand run at the same speed and the lugs on each chain lare spaced at fromea'ch other.

it' will foursifdes of the table, four runways leading from tu@ portion at' ofthe table past the saws is, their atright angles past the saws 2l, then again at right angles along the portion 25 and then again atri'ght angles over the portions and vback to the portion 350i thetable, thus derlning'a the table at all times asv it `travels past the several saws andthusyfeeds itself` automatically to the saws.

v While I have illustrated certain details of con- Y struction and arrangement of parts which` have been found particularly effective in actual practice,V do `not wish to be limited thereto obv viouslythese maybe varied in many ways with,

out 4departing from the spirit oi the inventionl als denedin the appended claims. r

y n It is particularly efficient because four blocks of ice maybe cut at onel equal distances' M beseenthatv the guides Mi and the guides 4l' define, with the four flanges ii at theV4 60 f eyuc'p'auifalongwhieh me block of is@ travels" until it is exhausted. It will .also be noted that by havingthe gang saws l5 and 2l project upward through the table, the block of ice rests upon` 65,

What is claimed is:-

l, An ice cubing machine, including a rectangular table having a wall extending along each side edge, a gang of circular saws disposed below the table and parallel with one edge thereof, a second gang of circular saws disposed at right angles to the rst named gang and parallel to a second side of the table, the table having slots through which the saws project, an endless conveyor associated with each gang of saws and having one flight traversing the table, each con-- veyor having outwardly projecting lugs, spring projected guides extending approximately parallel with the marginal wall on the two sides of the table and defining two runways at right ang-les to each other, a horizontal circular saw disposed in association with a third side of the table and disposed above the table at a height equal to the depth of cut of the gang saws, there being an opening in the table below the forward portion of the horizontal saw adapted to receive the cubes cut from the bottom face of the block, an endless conveyor having lugs and having a ight extending parallel to the wall of the third side of the table on the inner face of the wall, a spring projected guide extending approximately parallel with the last named side of the table and with the wall thereof defining a runway, that portion of the table upon which the block is discharged after passing the horizontal saw being elevated to a level with the saw and the table having an inclined face leading downward parallel to the fourth side of the table and to the entrance end of the rst named runway, an endless conveyor having its upper flight traversing the elevated and inclined portions of the table, and guiding means on the table adapted to be disposed in parallel relation to the flange on the fourth side of the table to dene a runway leading to the first named conveyor.

2. An ice cubing machine, including a rectangular table having a wall extending along each side edge, a gang of circular saws disposed below the table and parallel with one edge thereof, a second gang of circular saws disposed at right angles to the first named gang and parallel to a second side of the table, the table having slots through which the saws project, an endless conveyor associated with each gang of saws and having one flight traversing the table, each conveyor having outwardly projecting lugs, spring projected guides extending approximately parallel with the marginal wall on the two sides of the table and defining two runways at right angles to each other, a horizontal circular saw disposed in association with a third side of the table and disposed above the table at a height equal to the depth of cut of the gang saws, there being an opening in the table below the forward portion of the horizontal saw adapted to receive the cubes out from the bottom face of the block, an endless conveyor having lugs and having a flight extending parallel to the wall of the third side of the tabl-e on the inner face of the wall, a spring projected guide extending approximately parallel with the last named side of the table and with the wall thereof defining a runway, that portion of the table upon which the blo-ck is discharged after passing the horizontal saw being elevated to a level with the saw and the table having an inclined face leading downward parallel to the fourth side of the table and to the entrance end of the first named runway, an endless conveyor having its upper night traversing the elevated and inclined portions of the table, guiding means on the table adapted to be disposed in parallel relation to the wall on the fourth side of the table to dene a runway leading to the first named conveyor, and upwardly projected guides disposed at the entrance end of each of the first three runways extending parallel thereto but at right angles to the direction of movement of the ice block on the previous runway, said guides being momentarily depressible by the passage of the block thereover.

3. An ice cubing machine, including a rectangular table having side walls, three ice-block guides having upstanding anges disposed approximately parallel to but in spaced relation to said Walls and defining a series of three runways parallel to the three walls of the table; two gangs of vertically disposed saws each gang being disposed in one of said runways and parallel to the outer wall thereof, the table having slots through which the saws project; a horizontal circular saw associated with a third side wall of the table and disposed above the table at a height equal to the depth of cut of the gang saws, there being a cube discharge opening below the forward portion of the horizontal saw; an endless conveyor associated with each of the first two runways and each conveyor having its upper night iiush with the surface of the table and having ice-block engaging lugs projecting above the table; a third endless conveyor disposed in a vertical plane with its inner night extending parallel to the third wall of the table and in spaced relation to the corresponding guide, the forward portion of the inner flight of this last-named conveyor extending across the end of the preceding runway and the rear portion of the flight extending to the rear edge of the horizontal saw; that portion of the table upon which the ice-block is discharged after passing the horizontal saw and constituting a fourth runway being elevated to a level with the horizontal saw and said elevated portion having a downwardly inclined end extending parallel to the fourth side of the table and discharging onto the entrance end of the first-named runway; an endless conveyor having its upper iiight traversing the elevated and downwardly inclined por-` tions of the table; and guiding means associated with said elevated and downwardly inclined portions and adapted to extend parallel to the adjacent wall of the table.

4. An ice cubing machine, including a rectangular table having side walls, three ice-block guides having upstanding flanges disposed approximately parallel to but in spaced relation to said walls and defining a series of three runways parallel to the three walls of the table; two gangs of vertically disposed saws, each gang being disposed in one of said runways and parallel to the outer wall thereof, the table having slots through which the saws project; a horizontal circular saw associated with a third side wall of th-e table and disposed above the table at a height equal to the depth of cut of the ga-ng saws, there being a cube discharge opening below the forward portion of the horizontal saw; an endless conveyor associated with each of the rst two runways and each conveyor having its upper flight flush with the surface of the vtable and having ice-block engaging lugs projecting above the table; a third endless conveyor disposed in a vertical plane with its inner flight extending parallel to the third wall of the table and in spaced relation to the corresponding guide, the forward portion of the inner flight of this last-named conveyor extending across the end of the preceding runway and the rear portion of the night extending to the rear edge of the horizontal saw; that portion of the table upon which the ice-block is discharged after passing the horizontal saw and constituting a fourth runway being elevated toa level with the horizontal saw and said elevated portion having a downwardly inclined end extending parallel to the fourth side of the table and dise charging onto the entrance end of the rst-named runway; an endless conveyor having its upper flight traversing the elevated and downwardly inclined portions of the table; guiding means associated with said elevated and downwardly inclined portions and adapted to extend parallel to the adjacent wall of the table; and three vertically disposed guides disposed in slots in the table and constructed and arranged to be depressed by an approaching block of ice, two of the guides being disposed just beyond the two saw gangs and parallel to the next succeeding runway and in line with the flanges of the rst-named guides, the third guide being disposed at the end of the fourth runway and parallel to the direction of the first-named runway.

5. In an ice cube cutting machine having a series of runways disposed at right angles to each other and constituting a cyclic path over which the ice block to be cubed is successively carried; vertical guides located at the junction of one runway with another and extending across and at right angles to the preceding runway and parallel to and at the side of the succeeding runway; the runways having slots through which the guides are upwardly projected; and springs projecting said guides; the rear face of each guide being downwardly inclined to permit an ap" proaching block of ice to ride over and depress the guide.

6. In an ice cubing machine, a table having two upstanding outer walls at right angles to each other and two ice-block guides disposed parallel with the walls and in spaced relation thereto and with the walls dening a runway extending in one direction and a second runway at right angles to the rst-narned runway; and a vertically depressible guide disposed at the junction between the two runways and across the iirst-named runway but parallel to the secondnamed runway and in line with the ice block guide in the second-named runway, and resilient means urging the depressible guide upward, the rear face of the depressible guide being downwardly and rearwardly inclined to permit a block of ice to ride over and depress the guide.

7. In an ice cutting machine, a table having marginal walls at right angles to each other; means on the table for cutting kerfs at right angles to each other in the lower end of a block of ice to define cubes; a horizontal saw raised above the table for cutting off the cubes so defined; the table havig a runway on a level with the saw and upon which the block of ice is discharged after leaving the horizontal saw, the raised portion having a downwardly inclined discharge end; block conveying means traveling longitudinally of the raised portion of the table, a gate-like guide pivoted at one side of said runway for swinging movement in a horizontal plane a spring urging the guide to a position across the runway; and an outwardly bowed member mounted on the entrance face of said guide and against which a block of ice will abut to swing the guide to a position parallel to the wall of the runway.

CHARLES BUFFEI-IR. 

